The West Bank is a semiarid with very limited natural resources. The
annual rainfall ranges from 100 mm to 700 mm. The major water source is
groundwater. The limited natural resources, the political dispute over
the resources and the increased demand on water resources in the area
due to the increasing population have increased the severity of water
shortage problems in the region. Two areas have been identified as the
poorest areas in the West Bank, i.e., Hebron District in the south and
Jenin District in the north. As a response to the critical water conditions,
DFID is supporting development projects in the area to help Palestinians.
Hebron Water Access and Storage (H-WASP) was initiated as a pilot project
in the region. The first investigation of the area revealed the selection
of three villages (Anab Al-Kabir, Tuwani, and Ghuwein) for the pilot phase
of the project.

The overall objectives of H-WASP are to:

Promote the sustainable management and use of scarce water resources
in the West Bank and Gaza

Act as pilot stage for a broader assistance program in the region
to improve access to and storage of potable water in the remote rural
areas of the southern Hebron

Maximise benefits to the poorest sections of the community, particularly
by taking a demand driven approach to promote and support the development
of sustainable livelihood

Promote a greater awareness of environmental, health, hygiene and
financial sustainability issues related to water, and institutionalise
knowledge and expertise in community-based approaches to water and sanitation.